Used Snap-On electric impact - Bad idea?

[Bennylava]

I really like the form of the 3/8 snap-on electric impact. I like that it's small and narrow. And I like that the battery goes up inside and isn't a big mass on the bottom. So I figured I'd check ebay, but man they all look like they've seen 9/10 of their service life.

Probably a bad idea to buy a used ebay one right? One of those isn't something you'll find lightly used. It's not something some guy bought at home depot and sat on his shelf for years.

Or am I wrong here?

 

[413dan]

If you're set on the snap on version and not a similar equivalent, why not buy once, cry once? Start saving up if necessary, and reward yourself with a nice new tool that you will take care of and keep in better shape than it sounds like you are seeing for sale second hand. A dealer may also have a trade in that you could at least look at before pulling the trigger to determine shape rather than an online auction. Good luck.

 

[dsimatt]

Do you mean one like this?

 

[Bennylava]

Do you mean one like this?

Like this:

 

[SilverJimmy]

Not a good idea if you are trying to do anything very tight. Those are a Ni-Cad battery tool and not very powerful. The CT761 shown in the @dsimatt is an amazing tool that will pull the lug nuts off a 1 Ton truck all day long! As a bonus Snap-On will rebuild it to like new for a very reasonable flat rate fee.

 

[charbar]

As said, skip the old ni-cad ones. I bet snap on doesn't even make the batteries for them anymore and that's probably why you see them for sale cheap.

The current model ct761 I have (had) a love/hate relationship with. Very nice when they work but mine never worked. I had to have three just to keep in rotation because I always had one or two taking a **** on me. Batteries were less than impressive I thought too. I finally got tired of constantly sending my snap on 14.4 volt stuff in for repair and buying batteries so I literally gave it all away and bought Milwaukee m12 tools as a replacement. Haven't looked back.

Milwaukee 2454-20 is a nice comparison if you like the size and form of the snap ons.

 

[CGarage]

Milwaukee.